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Mountain View Activists Meet to Talk RevitalizationResidents say funding is needed for affordable housing, educationRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Are all neighborhoods treated equally here in Anchorage? Friday, about 50 Mountain View residents joined together at Clark Middle School to take part in a two-day summit. They all hope to get a chance to speak up and be heard. “It all has to do with funding, and we don't always getting that funding when it’s necessary,” said military veteran and father of two James Jackson. Jackson has lived in Mountain View for 17 years and hopes to bring life back to his community. “I am hoping together we can build a relationship like it used to be. When it was fun to come to these areas and host basketball clinics and tournaments.” But residents said without money that can’t happen. Jackson hopes to help paint an accurate picture of the community. “I came out because I wanted to hear some of the options that the city have either imposed or planned to have for the community, and also so all voices are heard in the community,” said Jackson. “Not just the representatives who are sometimes misinformed about what is actually happening in the community.” “The people that speak for Mountain View don't necessarily work or live in Mountain View,” said Pastor Wilbert Mickens. But Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan disagrees. “Anchorage is not that big of a town. I mean you don't have to live in a particular neighborhood to understand the needs of a neighborhood.” What residents said they need is affordable housing. They said it's the first step in fulfilling a dream. “People come here to get a start in America,” said Mickens. “It's the gateway to the land of opportunity for those who come to Alaska. But much of the funding goes toward things that perhaps may not be as useful. I would like to see the funding go to adult education [or] English as a second language.” But the mayor said those programs are the states responsibility. “The city is not in the education business particularly.” But no matter who pays for revitalization, this community is determined to bring pride back into their neighborhood. |
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Anonymous said on Saturday, Oct 6 at 9:34 AM
They just got multi-million dollar Clark School, the place they all met! You can throw money at a problem forever and not get results. Clark school has done zero to improve education results there. If the residents of Mountian View would act like citizens and not gangsters, they might be surprised at how the image of the neighborhood would change. There are some NICE houses there, and some that look like ghetto slums. When I drive by a raggedy looking house and there's half a dozen guys hanging on the hood of a beat up car, it doesn't make me want to invest in Mountain View.
103412211Jon said on Saturday, Oct 6 at 9:41 AM
I have about 45 years of living in Mt.View, including years I was a millionaire. It is always going downhill just like the rest of the city that once was a safe place to live. Looking for a friendlier place in the lower 48 now.
103412616Jon said on Saturday, Oct 6 at 1:21 PM
@Anonymous, And your negative thinking will also contribute to the problem as it surly does not help. There are people on the hillside in $800,000.00 homes I would not wish to be neighbors with. I have as much respect for the dozen guys you refer to as the Judge who has more than 1 drunk driving charge but who would put other drunk drivers away.
103420835BobD said on Saturday, Oct 6 at 3:23 PM
Perhaps if the residents of Mtn. View were to help the law enforcement agencies in getting rid of the dealers , etc. first , things might change..
103424565hmm said on Saturday, Oct 6 at 7:57 PM
They should build a plaza there and ...............oh wait
103433955Community Member said on Monday, Oct 8 at 9:54 AM
I went to the summit. Something that people fail to remember when thinking of drugs in the community is that dealers aren't poor. They live on the hillside, they just do their business in the poverty area of town because there is a lack of police presence there.
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